AP Physics B Course Syllabus Course Description ... - Lee Academy

AP Physics B Course Syllabus Course Description: The goal of AP Physics B is to provide students with an experience equivalent to an introductory college level physics course. AP Physics B requires a serious commitment from students. This class will be conducted primarily through inquiry based laboratory experiments and problem solving activities, reinforced with class discussion. We will also complete a major project each semester. Students should be prepared to devote a significant amount of time to working on problem sets, writing lab reports, and working on projects outside of class. Students may take AP Physics B as a first or second year course. It is expected that students taking this course will have strong algebra skills. Course Objectives: Provide students with a college level physics experience. Develop and reinforce strong problem solving and critical thinking skills. Develop and reinforce a collaborative problem solving approach. Develop and reinforce laboratory skills including: questioning, developing an experimental procedure, observing, data collection, and data analysis, including graphical analysis. Develop and reinforce appropriate laboratory safety skills. Develop an understanding of how we experience physics in our everyday lives and of how physics is applied in the “r eal world”. Course Requirements: Attendance: This course meets every other day for one and a half block periods (one hundred and twenty minutes.) Students are expected to attend all class periods. Missed work must be made up within one week. Labs: The laboratory is the most important part of this course. Experiments are conducted through an inquiry approach. In most cases, students will only be provided with a problem and materials, and must determine what data they need to collect and create and carry out their own procedures. In addition to problem solving, emphasis will be placed on evaluation and analysis of data. Students must keep a laboratory notebook. All data, observations, and calculations should be recorded in the lab notebook. Lab reports should also be recorded in the lab notebook, using the required lab report format. The lab notebook is a critical tool for the instructor to evaluate student understanding in this course. An average of one to two labs will be completed each week. Most labs are allotted one ninety minute block period.

Problem Sets: Students will be required to complete several problem sets in

each unit. Problems will be worked on in groups in class and independently for homework. We will review and discuss problem sets in class. We will also discuss conceptual questions in class. Reading Assignments: Students are expected to complete all reading assignments. Reading assignments should be outlined, in order to help students become comfortable with a college level textbook. Quizzes: One to two short quizzes will be given per unit. Quizzes will reflect recently completed problem sets and will allow the instructor to gauge student understanding prior to the unit test. Tests: Tests will be given at the end of each unit. Tests will include multiple choice questions, similar to the AP format, and challenging problems and short essays. Projects: The following projects will be required. Each project will be completed in the same manner as weekly labs. Students will be given a problem and provided with materials. Students will complete a write-up using the required lab report format. First Semester: Sledding Lab Students will collect data while sledding on a nearby hill in order to estimate the coefficient of friction between the sled and the snow and evaluate energy conversions. Second Semester: Electric Vehicle Students will design and build a small electric vehicle from recycled materials. The vehicle must be safe for a student to drive and will be raced against vehicles from other physics classes. AP Exam: It is expected that all students taking this course will take the AP Physics B Exam in May. Financial assistance with the exam fee is available if needed. Text: Cutnell, John D. and Johnson, Kenneth W. Physics. Seventh Edition, 2007, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, New Jersey. ISBN: 0471663157 Supplemental Text: Giancoli, Douglas C. Physics: Principles with Applications. Sixth Edition, 2005, Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. ISBN: 0130606200 Grading System: Students will be graded on problem sets, quizzes, tests, lab reports, class activities and

projects. labs/activities/quizzes tests/projects problem sets

60% 40% 10%

Extra Help: Students needing extra help can see the instructor during learning lab, before school, or after school. Students may also email the instructor with questions. Course Outline The following outline provides an overview of topics covered in each unit and lists the labs completed in each unit. Summer Assignment: Over the summer students will be expected to read sections and complete selected problems in chapter one of the course textbook, Physics, by John D. Cutnell and Kenneth W. Johnson (Seventh Edition). This assignment will allow students to review mathematical concepts and gain practice with vectors and graphing. Semester One: Unit One: Review, Kinematics in One and Two Dimensions Estimated Time: 3 weeks Corresponding Textbook Chapter(s): 1, 2 ,3 Topics: review and discussion of summer work measurement review significant figures review scalar vs. vector quantities working with vectors generating and analyzing graphs motion in one dimension distance and displacement speed and velocity acceleration falling objects constant acceleration equations motion in two dimensions projectile motion introduction to circular motion Labs:

Resultant Displacement and Velocity of a Monster Truck Final Velocity and Acceleration of a Cart on a Ramp

Final Velocity of Falling Objects Determining the Height and Initial Velocity of a Javelin Unit Two: Forces and Newton's Laws of Motion Estimated Time: 4 weeks Corresponding Textbook Chapter(s): 4 Topics: Newton's Laws of Motion First Law Second Law Third Law applications weight vs. mass normal force friction forces applied at an angle tension equilibrium situations non-equilibrium situations Labs: How does Mass affect Acceleration? Coefficient of Kinetic Friction on a Ramp Tension in a String Unit Three: Circular and Rotational Motion and Simple Harmonic Motion Estimated Time: 4 weeks Corresponding Textbook Chapter(s): 5, 8, 9, 10 Topics: uniform circular motion centripetal acceleration and force vertical circular motion satellites Kepler's Laws angular velocity and acceleration tangential vs. angular velocity center of gravity torque

simple harmonic motion pendulums properties energy

springs properties energy Hooke's Law gravitational force Labs: Radius, Centripetal Force, and Tangential Velocity Finding the Mass of a Meter Stick (torque) Period of a Pendulum Determining and Comparing Hooke's Constant Determining the Earth's Mass with a Pendulum Unit Four: Work, Energy, and Momentum Estimated Time: 4 weeks Corresponding Textbook Chapter(s): 6, 7 Topics: work-energy theorem applications conservation of energy applications conservative vs. non-conservative forces power impulse and momentum conservation of momentum elastic and non-elastic collisions angular momentum conservation Labs: Is Energy Conserved with a Cart on a Ramp? Momentum and Energy Conservation in Elastic and Non-elastic Collisions Sledding Project (collect data)

Unit Five: Fluids, Heat, Kinetic Theory, and Fluid Dynamics Estimated Time: 4 weeks Corresponding Textbook Chapter(s): 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 Topics: properties of fluids

flow

density and specific gravity pressure Pascal's Law buoyancy laminar Bernoulli

heat

gases

measuring temperature specific heat and heat capacity calorimetery heat of fusion and vaporization transfer of heat thermal expansion

ideal gas law kinetic theory speed of gas molecules PV diagrams thermodynamics laws of thermodynamics entropy heat engines efficiency Carnot cycle energy resources Labs: Pressure in a Fluid Measuring Flow Rates Comparing Specific Heat Capacities of Metals Exploring Thermal Expansion Comparing R Values Varying Volume, Pressure, and Temperature Simulations: Diffusion: http://jersey.uoregon.edu/vlab/Thermodynamics/index.html Carnot Cycle: http://physics.bu.edu/~duffy/classroom.html Unit Six: Electricity and Magnetism Estimated Time: 5 weeks 20, 21, 22, 23 Topics: static electricity electric fields

Corresponding Textbook Chapter(s): 18, 19,

electric forces Coulomb’ s Law potential conductors vs. insulators Gauss' Law capacitors current and circuits current resistance Ohm's Law power direct vs. alternating current direct current circuits series vs. parallel circuits current and voltage batteries capacitors magnetism magnetic fields magnetic forces magnetic fields and current Ampere's Law induced current flux Faraday's Law Lenz’ s Law electric generators Labs: Playing with Static Electricity Comparing Parallel and Series Circuits Capacitors in Circuits Electromagnetic Induction Modeling a Wind Turbine Electric Vehicle Project (begin planning)

Unit Seven: Waves, Sound, and Optics Estimated Time: 4 weeks Corresponding Textbook Chapter(s): 16, 17, 24, 25, 26 Topics: waves and sound amplitude, wavelength, period, frequency, speed speed of sound

interference reflection and refraction linear superposition standing waves physical optics interference diffraction polarization electromagnetic spectrum Doppler Effect geometric optics reflection and refraction Snell’ s law mirrors and lenses Labs: Generating a Standing Wave on a String Determining and Comparing the Speed of Sound in Different Materials Comparing Mirrors and Lenses Using Snell's Law to Determine the Speed of Light

Unit Eight: Atomic and Nuclear Physics Estimated Time: 3 weeks Corresponding Textbook Chapter(s): 29, 30, 31, 32 Topics: atomic physics Rutherford photons and photoelectric effect waves and particles

x-rays subatomic particle location Compton Scattering nuclear physics decay radiation nuclear force fission and fusion mass and energy Labs: Determining Plank's Constant Determining Half-Life Detecting Radiation Simulations: http://physics.bu.edu/~duffy/classroom.html (Photoelectric Effect, Compton Effect, and Radioactive Decay)

Unit 9: AP Exam Review Two weeks will be devoted to a general review and exam preparation.

Following the AP exam, students will work exclusively on their electric vehicle projects.